IS IT SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER OR JUST SHYNESS?
Social anxiety disorder is a mental condition marked by an excessive and recurrent fear of social interactions that have a significant effect on one’s life.
We’ve all felt anxious and had butterflies in our stomach while entering a room full of strangers, giving a public speech or becoming the centre of attention in a crowd.This shyness or nervousness is short term and usually doesn’t disturb one’s life and is different from social anxiety disorder.
According to DSM 5 social anxiety disorder is characterised by marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the person is exposed to .The fear may be of eating in a restaurant,going to social events ,giving speeches,going to job interviews or giving presentations at work and so on and the individual begins to avoid these circumstances .The fear usually stems from possible scrutiny and criticism by others and it persists for six months or more.The fear or anxiety is always out of proportion to the actual social situation .As a result they are either avoided or faced with extreme fear and anxiety.A person having social anxiety disorder faces significant impairment and distress in occupational,social and other important areas of life.
Research indicates that a combination of genetics,biology and environmental factors can contribute to the development of social anxiety disorders.
The following are some of the causes of Social anxiety disorder are:
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Social anxiety disorder is almost two to six times more likely among first degree relatives.
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Those who avoid or withdraw from unfamiliar situations,people or environment for the fear of being judged are almost always predisposed to social anxiety disorder.
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People with an overactive amygdala ,a portion of the brain which controls fear responses, can experience heightened anxiety in social situations.
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Social anxiety disorder can also be an effect of bullying, body shaming and criticism in social situations.
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It’s possible that social anxiety disorder is a learned behaviour.It may evolve in children who experience nervous behaviour in their parents in social situations or have overprotective and controlling parents.
It usually becomes apparent during adolescence when the individual begins making speeches or is required to give a school presentation.If left untreated it can severely impact one’s personal career and social life leading to low self esteem,difficulty in being assertive,negative self talk,hypersensitivity to criticism,weak social skills, relationship difficulties,low academic performance and professional failure.Major depressive disorder and substance abuse disorder can also exist as a comorbidity with social anxiety disorder.
Counseling support
People who suffer from social anxiety disorder can often use unhealthy coping mechanisms to cope with their extreme anxiety related to social situations.However psychotherapy,medications or a combination of the two may be used to successfully treat and handle it.If not addressed it can lead to other high risk behaviours such as
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Substance use
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Suicidal ideation
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Loneliness
In this case consulting a professional would be helpful.Cognitive behaviour therapy, a form of psychotherapy is extremely beneficial.The therapist will assist the individual in identifying and changing the negative thoughts . Learning coping strategies and social skills training to navigate through anxiety provoking social situations are also part of therapy.
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
About MindTribe.in.
MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.
About the Author.
Ruma Choudhury is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.